CANADA STOCKS-TSX may open higher as commodities edge up

March 13 (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock index looked set
to open slightly higher on Wednesday, helped by a rise in prices
for commodities including gold, copper and U.S. oil.

TOP STORIES

* Output at euro zone factories fell more than expected at
the start of 2013 and production in France and Germany slipped
in the latest sign the bloc is struggling to emerge from
recession.

* Italy's three-year borrowing costs rose to their highest
since December after Fitch cut its credit rating last week, but
the country also managed to sell the top planned amount of a new
15-year bond.

* Air Canada won a seven-year extension on
Tuesday of the cap on special payments to erase its sizeable
pension fund deficit, over the objection of its smaller rivals,
but will have to make higher payments than it originally
requested and abide by certain conditions.

* The U.S. government is investigating top global miner BHP
Billiton Ltd for possible corrupt practices, the company
confirmed, after media reports said it was being probed for its
sponsorship of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.